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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 07: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Friday, April 27, 2018

CD Review: Erin McDougald - Outside the Soiree

Erin McDougald (Voice & Bandleader), Dave Liebman (soprano & tenor sax), Tom Harrell (trumpet & flugelhorn), Mark Sherman (vibes/perc), Rodney Green (drums), Chembo Corniel (perc), Rob Block (piano and guitar), Dan Block (alto, flute & clarinet), Cliff Schmitt (bass)
(Review by Dave Brownlow.)
A refreshing album from vocalist/leader Erin McDougald who drew her material from a wide range of sources, arranging eleven of the thirteen songs with accompanist Rob Block, and leading an accomplished small band featuring two more well-known soloists, Tom Harrell and Dave Liebman . Erin is highly thought-of in the music business and has drawn praise from many shrewd critics including the late Verve Records producer/arranger Buddy Bregman who states “Erin has a very deep soulful connection to the songs she chooses. Her pitch and phrasing are superb and she has something about her – she has ‘it’.”
One of the great things about jazz is the way that some musicians are able to ‘reinvent’ well-known songs using imaginative and creative arrangements to the surprise and delight of the listener and this is what happens here. The opener is a hard-swinging, bluesy Don’t Be On The Outside featuring Erin herself, then wailing solos from soprano, trumpet, vibes and piano which serve to introduce the group members.
Clever piano chords in ‘classical’ style introduce Begin The Beguine completely refreshing that old standard in a new light. Brother Can You Spare A Dime is totally re-imagined in a cha-cha style with fine work from the band including some flowing trumpet, darting flute, and fluent piano solos which re-invigorate that song.
The Eddie de Lange tune The Man With The Horn is taken at a slow tempo with the barest of accompaniment and features Farrell tightly muted in this plaintive version. The Lionel Hampton/Sonny Burke Midnight Sun has various time-signature changes which the band handle with ease and the vibes are well-featured as appropriate in this version.
The CD title-track Outside The Soiree is Erin’s original composition and is, in her own words “not easily digestible, not catchy but thought-provoking” and is in a mournful minor mode. The obscure 1950s ballad Don’t Wait Up For Me is turned into a 5/4 rhythmic vehicle where trumpet and soprano solo and Green on guitar provides another tone colour.
The Masquerade Is Over is played as a bossa-nova where both piano and guitar can be heard simultaneously (presumably through over-dubbing). Erin’s vocal expresses only too poignantly the message “The thrill is gone….” An up-tempo Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most is a hard swinger with effective solos from alto, vibes and voice and appropriate background obligati throughout the ensemble sections.
When The World Was Young/All The Sad Young Men are performed ‘straight’ with a pared-down guitar-led backing. Just a mention here for Rob Block who’s equally at home on piano or guitar and who co-arranged six of the songs with Erin – quite a talent! Linger Awhile segues quickly into Avalon at a frantic tempo and features a ‘chase’ sequence between guitar and trumpet and a couple of choruses from drummer Green.
Unusual Way ( a new song to me) comes from the Broadway musical ‘Nine’ based on Fellini’s semi-autobiographical film ‘8 ½’ This is arranged by Rod’s wife Tomoko and features warm clarinet and guitar solos in a haunting minor key. The stand-out track for me is the CD’s final cut The Parting Glass – a traditional Irish funeral hymn re-arranged and re-imagined in such a creative fashion. Lovely fat ‘Tynerish’ chords and a churning rhythm section provides the basis for emotive solos all round with Erin scatting her way to the conclusion in dramatic manner.
Overall, a likeable CD with many moments of quality available now on: 
Miles High Records MHR 8629 from www.flappergirlsings.com
Dave B.
(Editors note: This CD was reviewed by Ann Alex in March but, working on the premise that you can't have too much of a good thing, we've also posted Dave's review. It's a cracking CD! - Lance)

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